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Nicandra physalodes

(L.) Gaertn. (1791)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Nicandra

apple of peru

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect annual herbs up to 2 m tall, with intraxylary phloem, glabrous or sparsely pubescent.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades narrowly to broadly ovate, 4–20 cm long, 2–10 cm wide. Apex acute to acuminate. Base cuneate to attenuate. Upper surfaces with sparse, short, inflated, eglandular hairs; lower surfaces glabrous or nearly so. Margins widely, irregularly, and shallowly dentate or subentire. Petioles 2–6 cm long, narrowly winged above. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in solitary flowers. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, pedicels 1–2 cm long, recurved. Calyx pentagonal, deeply 5-lobed, lobes ovate, 1–2 cm long, apex acute to acuminate, base sagittate and often mucronate at basal tips, the lobes appressed along the margins to form longitudinal wings. Corolla actinomorphic, broadly campanulate, 5-lobed, pale blue or mauve with a blue spot on the paler base of each lobe, the lobes 1–2.5 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, margins entire, obtuse. Stamens 5, inserted at base of corolla, included; anthers dithecal. Ovary superior, irregularly 3–5-celled, placentation axile; ovules numerous; stigma capitate, 3–5-lobed; style 1, thick, erect, 3–6 mm long.

Fruit: Berries pale yellowish; dryish; globose; 1–2 cm in diameter; enclosed in the accrescent; scarious; reticulate calyx; splitting irregularly from base when ripe. Seeds numerous; subdiscoid to broadly reniform; 1.2–2.1 mm long; seed coat reticulate–foveolate; embryo curved around the endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 18–22

Habitat: Dry to mesic; disturbed habitats.

Elevation Range: 3–830 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 237 (1791)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1260 (K, O, Mo, M, H); Oppenheimer 2010:38 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Nicandra physalodes Honolulu, Kaimuki Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 2993 Oahu BISH 1925-01-21
2 Nicandra physalodes Kaimuki roadside Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2495 Oahu BISH 1928-02-03
3 Nicandra physalodes Honolulu District: Koko Head, Ihiihilauakea Crater Preserved_Specimen Bruegmann, M.M. 170 Oahu BISH 1985-02-03
4 Nicandra physalodes Kaimuki, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 2993 Oahu BISH 1925-01-21
5 Nicandra physalodes Waialua. Waste ground by Crozier Drive at Puuiki Street Preserved_Specimen Mäkinen, L. 65381 Oahu BISH 1965-12-12
6 Nicandra physalodes Near Sprecklesville, roadside, near sea level Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Maui BISH 1930-02-23
7 Nicandra physalodes Moanalua Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1206 Oahu BISH 1909-03-18
8 Nicandra physalodes Pohakupuna Rd Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH
9 Nicandra physalodes Moanalua Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1909-03-18
10 Nicandra physalodes Makua Valley Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1932-01-17
11 Nicandra physalodes Kealia trail, Waianae ridge, above Mokulea Preserved_Specimen Rockafellow, R. Oahu BISH 1956-11-11
12 Nicandra physalodes Pohakupuna Rd Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1957-01-13
13 Nicandra physalodes Waialua, near LDS church silty loam Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous weed, 1' tall; sprawling shrub, light blue flowers, ridged calyx Afualo, D. 57 Oahu BISH 1975-03-16
14 Nicandra physalodes Wailuku Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 870 Maui BISH 1909-08-01
15 Nicandra physalodes Diamond Head. Kapiolani Park Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 62 Oahu BISH 1950-05-13
16 Nicandra physalodes Waimea District, Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park secondary vegetation throughout park site and especially along western side of site. With Eragrostis spp. and Panicum maximum Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 3289 Kauai BISH 1989-03-07
17 Nicandra physalodes Makawao District, near Kahului Airport, toward Kanaha Beach Park disturbed grasslands Preserved_Specimen Corolla white and purple at base and toward apex. Wagner, W.L. 5779 Maui BISH 1988-03-03
18 Nicandra physalodes Kekaha, Kokee Rd, about 1 mile from Kekaha School Naturalizing on side of Rd under large Pithecellobium saman trees. Preserved_Specimen Upright small shrub w. spreading crown. Lvs medium green; flowers w. white tubular corolla, outter corolla pubescent; filaments purple; anthers orange; seeds light red-brown. Tangalin, N. 1393 Kauai BISH 2007-06-01
19 Nicandra physalodes Parker Ranch, Puu Kapu old grass experimental plot Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 264 Hawaii BISH 1932-05-30
20 Nicandra physalodes W Maui, S of Napili Honokowai, S side of Kahana Stream Disturbed area next to pineapple field. Preserved_Specimen Perennial herb to 1.5m; flowers purpe, with white center; fruit tan at maturity. Annable, C.R. 3917 Maui BISH 1999-02-16
21 Nicandra physalodes Near Nanakuli roadside in dry region Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 7403 Oahu BISH 1925-12-01
22 Nicandra physalodes Makakilo Gulch Growing together with Kiawe and mixed grasses Preserved_Specimen Leu, M. 66 Oahu BISH 1987-12-04
23 Nicandra physalodes Kau District. Kau Sugar Mill fallow sugar cane field Preserved_Specimen Herb to 3 ft. tall. Flowers blue with white throat. Herbst, D.R. 5516 Hawaii BISH 1975-10-21
24 Nicandra physalodes Waianae Mts., along gulch at mouth of Ekahanui Gulch Weed of pineapple field Preserved_Specimen erect herb with blue flowers which have a white throat Herbst, D.R. 5274 Oahu BISH 1975-08-08
25 Nicandra physalodes Honolulu, Manoa Valley arid cane field Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 201 Oahu BISH 1922-09-27
26 Nicandra physalodes Kamuela, growing with Sida rhombifolia and Oenothera laciniata. Preserved_Specimen flowers light blue-violet. Davis, J. 512 Hawaii BISH 1981-06-14
27 Nicandra physalodes Koloa Distr., Kalaheo, along Niho Road secondary vegetation with Leucaena Preserved_Specimen Herb 1.5 m tall. Fruit surrounded by dry, inflated calyx, drying brown and splitting to release brown seeds. Lorence, D.H. 7362 Kauai BISH 1993-02-21
28 Nicandra physalodes Waipio Peninsula; Waipio, Pouhala Marsh between Kapakahi & Waikele Streams Occasional herb on wasteland slope on northern border of wetland. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9612 Oahu BISH 1996-12-18
29 Nicandra physalodes Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Makena-Keoneoio road Pockets of vegetation in a'a lava and at roadside. Occasional along the roadside. Preserved_Specimen Abbott, I.A. 91.63 Maui BISH 1991-03-06
30 Nicandra physalodes Maunalei Gulch dry slope, talus Preserved_Specimen dried up and shriveled; inflated capsules on stalks Oppenheimer, H.L. 50807 Lanai BISH 2008-05-29
31 Nicandra physalodes Hawaii National Park. Volcano House garden Preserved_Specimen fl. blue Fagerlund, G.O. 222 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-01
32 Nicandra physalodes Naiwa, along road to Kaluaapuhi Fishpond just before its junction with Highway 46 Preserved_Specimen Herb with pale blue flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5707 Molokai BISH 1976-03-08
33 Nicandra physalodes Hawaii National Park. Volcano House garden Preserved_Specimen fl. blue Fagerlund, G.O. 222 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-01
34 Nicandra physalodes Hawaii National Park. Volcano House garden Preserved_Specimen fl. blue Fagerlund, G.O. 222 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-01
35 Nicandra physalodes Waimea District, land of Makaweli; weed in old Russian Fort Preserved_Specimen Herb with pale blue flowers Herbst, D.R. 5685 Kauai BISH 1976-02-25
36 Nicandra physalodes Koko Head, near seashore Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 160 Oahu BISH 1930-02-28
37 Nicandra physalodes Manoa Valley; fields Preserved_Specimen weed Sideris, J. Oahu BISH 1932-01-09
38 Nicandra physalodes Ewa Beach; Chun's Pasture Preserved_Specimen Flowers pale blue Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH
39 Nicandra physalodes Manoa Valley; fields Preserved_Specimen weed Sideris, J. Oahu BISH 1932-01-09
40 Nicandra physalodes Waianae Mts., at Palehua Road Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 611029066 Oahu BISH 1961-10-29
41 Nicandra physalodes Waimea District. Kekaha, Pacific Missile Range Facility, Oxidation Pond area. Mixed native/ non-native shrubland. The lower pond is lined with Ludwigia octovalvis and Cyperus involucratus and Sida fallax, along the water margins with Waltheria Indica, Leucaena leucocephala and W/ Dodonaea viscosa, Sida fallax, Waltheria indica, Heliotropium procumbens var. depressum, Cyperus involucratus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis amabilis, Melinis repens, Leucaena leucocephala, Pluchea Preserved_Specimen Just two in area. Flower bell-shaped purple w/ white center open at midday. Fruit immature green balloons w/ 4 calyx lobes and 5 ridges, drying brown 2/ reticulate venation. Stem grooved, petiole single groove above, leaves dull med green above with impressed venation, below lighter dull green w/ raised venation. Po Kauai BISH
42 Nicandra physalodes Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Hawaii BISH
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